Apple announces the iPad Mini

Apple has announced the iPad Mini, a smaller version of its full-size tablet, putting an end to months of rumors concerning the device. After Tim Cook talked at length about the iPad’s success in education, and a revised iPad was introduced, Phil Schiller took to the stage to reveal the new, smaller model.

The device is 53-percent thinner than the full-size iPad, and just 7.2mm thick. It has a design that looks closer to the iPhone 5 than the existing iPad in the pictures, and features a 7.9-inch display with a 1024 x 768 pixel resolution and a pixel density of 163ppi.

To differentiate the iPad Mini from the competition, Phil Schiller spoke about the new tablet having an aluminum chassis instead of plastic, and how the larger display shows 50-percent more content than a 7-inch display when viewing the web.

Inside is a dual-core A5 processor, a battery offering 10-hours of use and a 4G LTE radio, while outside is a 5-megapixel camera, an HD FaceTime camera and a Lightning connector. The operating system is still iOS 6, and apps designed for the iPhone will upscale to fit the larger screen.

Like the rest of Apple’s mobile range, Siri is on hand to help out with life, and to see the Mini fit in with the larger iPad, Apple has made a new Smart Cover especially for the smaller tablet. They’re made in blue, green, pink, white, gray and Apple’s special red. The tablet itself comes in black or a brushed metal-look with a white front panel.

Apple has priced the iPad Mini at $329 for the 16GB Wi-Fi model. Doubling the capacity adds another $100, and another $130 gives you 4G LTE connectivity. Pre-orders start on Friday, October 26 and it will go on sale on November 2.

In addition to the new iPad, Apple updated its iBooks Author program, which has new features including portrait templates, embedded fonts, mathematical expressions, multi-touch widgets and the ability for publishers to update their books quickly and easily. The updated app is available for free today.